Crash brings city to a halt

Wolverhampton city centre was brought to a standstill after a cyclist was seriously injured in a crash which closed part of the ring road for more than three hours during a police investigation.

Hundreds of vehicles were stuck in jams up to two miles long while huge queues built up at bus stops.

The cyclist was taken to New Cross Hospital with serious head and back injuries after a collision with a blue MG Rover at Ring Road St Patricks near the junction with Broad Street at 2.45pm yesterday.

He was today in a serious but stable condition. The female driver of the car was treated for shock but did not require hospital treatment. A police cordon went up at the scene within minutes and remained in place until 5.50pm.

Police today defended the lengthy delays reopening of the road and said it was held up because the steering wheel was locked on the MG Rover meaning police had to wait for a recovery vehicle to move the wreckage.

Accident investigators were also called to measure up and mark out the crash scene.

It led to gridlock around the Bilston Street island, Broad Street, Princess Street, Berry Street, Market Street and Ring Road St Davids. Hundreds of drivers turned off their engines, while many tried detours and ended up stuck for at least an hour, particularly down the Wednesfield Road which was at a standstill until gone 6pm. Buses were delayed by around 90 minutes, and scores of people gathered on the bridge near Wolverhampton train station after 4pm to watch the police operation.

Many office workers left their buildings to have a look at what was going on and returned back to the premises after drivers wound their windows down and told them not to bother joining the jams.

Motorists heading towards areas like Whitmore Reans, Heath Town, Wednesfield and Willenhall were stuck in stop-start traffic until after 6.30pm because of the chaos. Some drivers said they had left work at 5pm and barely moved more than a few yards in an hour.

John Boggan, aged 24, an IT worker of Wood End Road, Wednesfield, said: "As soon as I came out of work I rang the office and told the rest to stay inside for a while. It's the first time I've ever had to do that.

"It took me two hours to get away. I left work at 4pm and it wasn't until 6pm that I was home, I tried everything I could."

Mohammed Khan, aged 40, of Lalley Road, Brewood, said: "I did not move for 45 minutes, this is the worst gridlock I have seen ever in the city centre, it's terrible."

Stephanie Maloney, aged 23, of Whitmore Reans, said: "I tried to go down Ring Road St Patricks but was diverted at the end of Broad Street. It was mayhem."

Police are asking any witnesses to the incident to call Bilston Street Police station on 0845 113 5000 and ask for inspector Kris Starynskiyj.